BAKU, Azerbaijan: The United States and Azerbaijan have discussed prospects for the development of bilateral military relations, in particular, cooperation in the field of security and defense, as well as issues of military education and medical training (US-Azerbaijan defense cooperation).
The discussion was held when Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met a delegation led by the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper in Baku, according to Azerbaijan state news agency AZERTAC.
During the meeting, Zakir Hasanov hailed the successful development of military relations between the two Countries. He highlighted the military cooperation between including the activities of Azerbaijani servicemen within the framework of NATO programs, as well as the participation of the Azerbaijani peacekeepers in the “Resolute Support” mission conducted by the Alliance in Afghanistan.
The minister stressed that both Countries are interested in expanding cooperation in the military, military-technical and military-educational spheres. He noted that a decision was made to increase the number of Azerbaijani officers studying in advanced US military-educational institutions.
Zakir Hasanov informed the US delegation about the military-political situation in the region. He emphasized that Armenia that poses a threat to stability in the South Caucasus, despite the norms and principles of international law, continues to occupy the territories of Azerbaijan.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense also emphasized that the US government is interested in expanding and strengthening cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of security and defense.
Lauding Azerbaijan’s contribution to operations in Afghanistan including the professionalism of Azerbaijani peacekeepers, Laura Cooper, quoting the words of the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, noted that “the successes achieved in Afghanistan today would have been impossible without strong support from Azerbaijan”.
Laura Cooper highlighted the participation of Azerbaijan in the fight against terrorism and the exemplary service of Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Afghanistan.
